Patents by Inventor Rafael Betancourt

Rafael Betancourt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9778804
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a processing module that calibrates a current-mode baseline correction system to account for features in an input device that lead to “offset” in output of a charge integrator used for sensing presence of an input object. The offset is a difference between a common mode voltage, which is the average voltage output of the charge integrator over a sensing cycle and a mid-rail voltage midway between high and low power supply voltages. Calibration is performed by adjusting an N-side and/or P-side current flow duration parameter until common mode voltage falls within a low offset window in which the offset is deemed to be sufficiently close to the mid-rail voltage. The resulting duration parameters are stored and used for current-mode baseline corrections when operating an associated sensor electrode for capacitive sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Chunbo Liu, Rafael Betancourt, Tae-Song Chung, Steve Chikin Lo
  • Patent number: 9740351
    Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit cancels background capacitance while reducing charge leakage and supply ripples during reset phases and integrate phases. The capacitance measurement circuit operates a first switch into a linear mode causing a first resistance in the first switch, and after a delay, operates a second switch into a saturation mode causing a second resistance in parallel to the first resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zheming Li, Saikrishna Ganta, Tae-Song Chung, Rafael Betancourt, John Michael Weinerth, Farzaneh Shahrokhi
  • Publication number: 20160357299
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a processing module that calibrates a current-mode baseline correction system to account for features in an input device that lead to “offset” in output of a charge integrator used for sensing presence of an input object. The offset is a difference between a common mode voltage, which is the average voltage output of the charge integrator over a sensing cycle and a mid-rail voltage midway between high and low power supply voltages. Calibration is performed by adjusting an N-side and/or P-side current flow duration parameter until common mode voltage falls within a low offset window in which the offset is deemed to be sufficiently close to the mid-rail voltage. The resulting duration parameters are stored and used for current-mode baseline corrections when operating an associated sensor electrode for capacitive sensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Chunbo LIU, Rafael BETANCOURT, Tae-Song CHUNG, Steve Chikin LO
  • Publication number: 20160334902
    Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit cancels background capacitance while reducing charge leakage and supply ripples during reset phases and integrate phases. The capacitance measurement circuit operates a first switch into a linear mode causing a first resistance in the first switch, and after a delay, operates a second switch into a saturation mode causing a second resistance in parallel to the first resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Zheming LI, Saikrishna GANTA, Tae-Song CHUNG, Rafael BETANCOURT, John Michael WEINERTH, Farzaneh SHAHROKHI
  • Patent number: 8058884
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing capacitances that are applicable to proximity sensor devices are provided. The systems and methods provide decreased implementation costs by reducing the number of output terminals required. Specifically, the systems and methods for sensing capacitances provide the ability to selectively activate indicating transducers, such as LEDs, with the same output terminals used for sensing capacitances. This reduces the need for additional, dedicated output terminals for activating the indicating transducers. As such, the system and method provides for efficient use of resources in proximity sensor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Rafael Betancourt
  • Publication number: 20100045310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing capacitances that are applicable to proximity sensor devices are provided. The systems and methods provide decreased implementation costs by reducing the number of output terminals required. Specifically, the systems and methods for sensing capacitances provide the ability to selectively activate indicating transducers, such as LEDs, with the same output terminals used for sensing capacitances. This reduces the need for additional, dedicated output terminals for activating the indicating transducers. As such, the system and method provides for efficient use of resources in proximity sensor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Rafael BETANCOURT